Protect Your Investment by Cleaning
Your Vinyl Siding

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Vinyl siding is an attractive way to protect your house but like anything that withstands the elements day in and day out, it gets dirty over time. The good news is that if you take care of it, it can keep its charm for years. Besides the daily grime, pollen, and dirt that it’s subjected to, other culprits contribute to diminish its luster and attractiveness. High humidity and errant sprinklers can cause mold or maybe a drainpipe or gutter has leaked and formed rust stains streaking down the side of your house. Annual cleanings can take care of all of these problems, protecting your investment and helping to increase the value of your home.

Before you begin cleaning, it’s necessary to prepare the area. Remove any obstacles near the house and cover anything that can’t be moved and you don’t want to get wet, such as electric outlets or fixtures. Also cover the plants near the house to protect them, though don’t leave them covered any longer than necessary so that they don’t get damaged.

Once everything is prepped, there are a couple options for cleaning your siding. The first is plain old elbow grease and a hose and bucket. This is gentile on the siding and works well for one-story buildings but can be more difficult if there are areas to be cleaned that are higher up. Unfortunately, this method is very labor intensive and can take some time. A second option is to power wash your siding. It is much faster and easier, especially with multi-story buildings. If you choose this method, there is some concern about using too much pressure because it can force water through the siding’s seams where it can be trapped underneath and cause problems. This is easily avoided and a pressure washing expert can help you make sure it’s done properly.

Whether using a bucket and hose or a pressure washer, it’s helpful to choose a cleaner to cut through the dirt. Survey your house for trouble spots, determine what they are, and treat them before doing the overall cleaning. Bleach will take care of any mold or mildew areas. Dab a spot of bleach on any areas you suspect to be mold or mildew and they will turn white if they are. Take care when cleaning with regular bleach that it doesn’t get on any of your plants as it will damage them. If this is a concern, consider using oxygen bleach, which is safe for your garden. If you have copper stains, a solution of oxalic acid can help remove them. You can use a solution of regular soap and water for the general cleaning or consider using a vinegar solution if you’re concerned about introducing harsh chemicals to your garden. No matter what cleaner you choose, it’s a good idea to clean a test area in a place that isn’t easily noticeable to be sure of how it will look before using it on the whole house.

When cleaning, work from the bottom of the building up so that you prevent streaking. Also, if you have textured siding, a soft-bristle brush is perfect to use for cleaning the grooves without scratching the siding. Done correctly, a clean house can seem like new again. For help and information about cleaning your vinyl siding, see the pressure washing contractor at EnhanceScape.